Rhombic sulfur has been not only believed traditionally as a marvelous tonic, but also used for extermination of insects, sterilization and disinfection. Among many chemotherapeutants, particularly sulfa drugs have been believed to be dramatically effective for various inflammatory diseases and disposed to use so improperly that it has become an important problem in modern medicine.
von Oettingen reported onthe toxic symptom caused by an excessive intake of sulfur. In that while, toxic changes of various sulfa drugs on the liver have been studied by many investigators. However, the mechanism and pattern of sulfur and sulfa drug induced injuries have not been settled yet.
This study is conducted anatopathologically and biochemically to evaluate the effects of rhombic sulfur and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) upon the liver and blood. One hundred fifty Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 200g have been used for the experiment and divided into 1) basic diet fed group (control), 2) rhombic sulfur administered group and 3) Bactrim administered group. The basic diet was nutritionally composed of adequate solid diet, and each rat was administered orally 15-20g of basic diet pet day. Rhombic sulfur (25,250mg), Bactrim (20,200mg) were administered to appropriate group orally per rat per day.
In doing this, the liver has been examined grossly and microscopically, and the serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, hemoglobin levels and white cell series in each rat have been also measured.
The results obtained from this study are as follows:
1) In both rhombic sulfur administered group and Bactrim administered group, serum GOT,
GPT, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, eosinophil and monocyte were increased, while
hemoglobin and neutrophil decreased. The hepatic cord cels revealed various degree of swelling,
fatty change and necrosis. These changes in the rhombic sulfur administered group were more
severe than that of the Bactrim administered group.
2) Particularly morphologic changes were directly proportional to the quantity and duration of rhombic sulfur and Bactrim administration.
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